Better or Worse: Miami Dolphins Edition

The Miami Dolphins are one of the more interesting teams headed into the 2020 season. Their offseason spending an abundance of draft picks added 20+ players to their depth charts and added some competition in key positions. Can they have a season worthy of the chatter?

Their biggest question mark is at quarterback. While Ryan Fitzpatrick is penciled in as the starter, drafting Tua Tagovailoa in the top 10 puts pressure on both players to perform. Fitzpatrick is no stranger to camp competitions and a constant professional so he’ll help bring the rookie along. He’s the clear leader in both the position battle and leadership, for now.

The Dolphins also put some hard work into their run game improving both their offensive line and running backs. So far it looks like they’ll put the focus into controlling the football and hoping their defense will control the score. With new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, their offense will look more of a spread and RPO, and while the opportunity for big plays can evolve, the majority of their offense will be quick chain-moving plays.

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Defensively they appear to want to control the passing game as well. Spending heavily on the defensive backs, Miami will look to have fresh legs and depth keeping teams between the hash on shorter plays. With teams like Baltimore and Kansas City in the playoff mix of their future, they’ll need to find ways to keep games close. If they can learn to limit opposing offenses, they can systematically eat up the clock and tack on points while doing so.

By controlling the football, they’ll take the old New England Patriots approach, not tiring themselves out and doing their best to be the last team with the football. Sitting in waiting, saving their energy for the fourth quarter the Dolphins could have a similar style.

Miami isn’t looking to be the Pats 2.0 but Brian Flores learned a lot in New England. He’ll more than likely apply those same approaches with his own twist in season 2 with the team. Until the Dolphins develop their young talent, look for Flores to stick with what he’s seen work in the past.

Verdict:

Miami has a lot of young talent who can become great, or fall flat on their face. If these players turn out to be game-changers down the road it will have paid off. If they can keep games close and convert in the fourth quarter, they’ll win more than the 5 games they won last year thus should be better. If their middle of the road players regresses, look for a similar record and a worse season, strictly from expectations alone.